The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has officially announced the 23rd edition of its Annual Shari’ah Boards Conference, to be held on April 20–21, 2025 (22–23 Shawwal 1446 AH), at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain and held under its esteemed patronage, this premier global event is expected to draw wide international participation from across the Islamic finance ecosystem.
Renowned as one of the most influential gatherings in the field of Islamic finance, the AAOIFI Annual Shari’ah Boards Conference has, for over two decades, served as a key platform for scholarly discussion, standardization, and Shari’ah governance across financial institutions adhering to Islamic principles. The 23rd edition is poised to build on this legacy, offering a space for high-level engagement between scholars, regulators, and senior industry executives from around the world.
The official opening session of the two-day conference will feature prominent keynote speakers including His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Chairman of the AAOIFI Shari’ah Board; H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the AAOIFI Board of Trustees; Dr Mohammed Omar Banaja, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Yemen; and Dr Md. Kabir Ahmed, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The session will also include a formal recognition of honored guests and strategic sponsors, along with the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and the opening of an accompanying exhibition.
The conference agenda comprises five thematic sessions that will address pressing and emerging issues within the Islamic finance sector. Topics include legal and Shari’ah perspectives on compensation in cases of breach of binding promises, the applicable governing law in international Islamic financial contracts, jurisprudential views on combining multiple contract structures, and operational frameworks for implementing reinsurance in compliance with Islamic principles.
Participants from more than 20 countries are expected to attend, including representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Malaysia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The attendee profile includes central bank officials, members of Shari’ah boards, legal and financial scholars, senior executives from Islamic financial institutions, and experts from international standard-setting bodies.
Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa emphasized the strategic role of the conference in guiding the evolution of Islamic finance globally. “The Shari’ah Boards Conference organized by AAOIFI, with the support of the Central Bank of Bahrain and key Islamic finance institutions, has provided foundational leadership to the global Islamic finance sector over the past 22 years,” he noted. He expressed pride in hosting the 23rd edition and underscored its continued importance in unifying scholarly and regulatory perspectives in a rapidly evolving global economy.
This year’s conference comes at a time when Islamic finance is gaining increased recognition as a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional financial systems. With over 45 regulatory and supervisory authorities across more than 40 jurisdictions adopting AAOIFI’s standards, the organization remains at the forefront of shaping and harmonizing Islamic financial practices worldwide.
To ensure broad accessibility and engagement, the event will offer live interpretation in Arabic, English, and French. The sessions will also be streamed live across AAOIFI’s digital platforms, including Zoom, YouTube, and LinkedIn, with remote participation available through prior registration.
As the Islamic finance industry continues to grow and evolve, the AAOIFI Annual Shari’ah Boards Conference remains a pivotal event for fostering collaboration, innovation, and governance rooted in Shari’ah compliance.